With three first-half catches for 60 yards, Kalvin Cline was on pace Saturday to become Virginia Tech’s first tight end in 11 years to have 100-plus yards in a game.

Cline added just one reception for 5 yards in the second half of the 19-9 victory over Pittsburgh, but his continued emergence is another baby step for new coordinator Scot Loeffler’s offense.

“Kalvin’s doing a great job,” quarterback Logan Thomas said. “The more he plays, the more comfortable he gets, and that’s what we need out of him.”

Cline’s first two catches, both on the opening drive, were the most impressive and productive. Each began with him in motion across the formation to the right, drawing coverage from a linebacker.

The first netted 18 yards to Pitt’s 38. The second was a 27-yarder for his first career touchdown.

“We motioned across and saw it was man-to-man, and he had good leverage on the backer,” Thomas said. “I knew Kalvin could win (one-on-one) – he’s a good route-runner – and he just went out there and made a play.”

Tech has used tight ends sparingly as receivers over the years. In fact, Cline’s day was the most productive for a Hokies tight end since Sam Wheeler’s seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown against East Carolina in 2007.

The last Tech tight end to crack triple-digits was Keith Willis, who had two receptions for 113 yards in a 50-42, triple-overtime loss at Syracuse in 2002.

A 6-foot-4 true freshman from Boca Raton, Fla., Cline played just one season of high school football and was set to redshirt after committing to Tech long after signing day, so late that his bio does not appear in the media guide. But when Ryan Malleck sustained a season-ending shoulder injury and Duan Perez-Means left the program, Cline inherited the starting position.

“Logan’s been putting it on the money,” Cline said, “making me look good.”

Cline has 15 receptions for 164 yards on the season.

Other morsels from Saturday’s game:

* Every ACC team has enjoyed a bye week except Virginia Tech. Now it’s the Hokies’ turn as they rest two weeks before their Oct. 26 home game against Duke.

“The bye couldn’t have come at a better time,” offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler said. “We will just continue to get better. Our throwing game has moved in the right direction, and if we can get this running game going, we will be OK.”

Improving the ACC’s 12th-ranked rushing attack (76 yards on 38 carries Saturday) is imperative if Tech is to return to the conference championship game.

The Hokies get another bye week between their home finale Nov. 16 against Maryland and regular-season finale Nov. 30 at Virginia.

* Dadi Nicolas on Saturday became the first Hokie since Cam Martin in 2007 against North Carolina to have three sacks in a game.

* Thomas has thrown 109 consecutive passes without an interception, and Tech has gone three straight games without a turnover for the first time since 2005 against Ohio, Georgia Tech and West Virginia.

* The Hokies didn’t have an interception, ending a 10-game streak with at least one.

I can be reached at 247-4636 or by e-mail at dteel@dailypress.com. Follow me at twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP